Explore China 2026
Participant Handbook
Everything you need before departure — in one page.
Pre-Departure Checklist
- Passport valid 6+ months beyond travel
- Hotel booking + return flight confirmed
- VPN installed and tested
- Airport tourist SIM researched
- WeChat — downloaded, verified, card linked
- Alipay — downloaded, verified, card linked
- DiDi — downloaded
- Some RMB cash as backup
Entry Requirements
Three ways to enter China — check which applies to your passport.
🇨🇦 Canada & 🇬🇧 UK
Up to 30 days, valid until Dec 31, 2026.
Bring: passport (6+ months validity) · hotel booking · return flight ticket.
240-Hour Transit
Up to 10 days for 54 eligible nationalities transiting through China.
Key rule: China must be a transit stop — you enter from country A and exit to country B. They cannot be the same country.
Hong Kong and Macau count as separate destinations. Example: fly in from Canada → visit China → exit to Hong Kong ✓
Need: passport · confirmed onward ticket to a third country/region within 240 hours.
Tourist Visa (L Visa)
For passports not eligible for visa-free entry. Apply through the Chinese Visa Application Service Centre (CVASC).
Typical processing: 4–7 business days. Apply well in advance.
VPN
Google, Instagram, WhatsApp, and YouTube are blocked in China.
Install and test your VPN before you board your flight — VPN apps and their websites are inaccessible inside China.
SIM Card
Airport Tourist SIM
Buy a tourist SIM card at the airport when you arrive (passport required).
- International access — Google, YouTube, WhatsApp without VPN (confirm when purchasing)
- Chinese phone number — needed for DiDi, food delivery, app verification
- Local data — stable connection for WeChat Pay and maps
💡 When buying, ask: "Can this SIM access Google and WhatsApp?"
Other options
Set up before you fly. No Chinese phone number — limits DiDi and food delivery.
Easiest. Usually bypasses firewall. Expensive for heavy use, no Chinese number.
Apps & Payment
Download these before you land. Turn VPN off during setup.
- Register with phone number
- Verify identity (passport)
- Link Visa / Mastercard
- Register with phone number
- Verify identity (passport)
- Link Visa / Mastercard
- Download & register
- Set language to English
- Link Alipay or add card
P2P transfers are restricted for foreign cards. Bring RMB cash for small vendors.
Packing, Transport, Health & Emergency
Details will be added closer to departure.